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Annoying Music Is Like A 'Train Wreck'

STEVE INSKEEP, host:

And now let's turn from the science of annoying to the art of it. Our guide is another well-known public radio voice. We've got team coverage on this story.

JIM NAYDER: My name is Jim Nayder, and I am host of the "Annoying Music Show."

INSKEEP: For 15 years now, Nayder has been proudly serving-up some of the most irritating sounds on the dial.

Unidentified Child: (Singing) Somewhere over the rainbow...

INSKEEP: Oh, that's not annoying. People seem to love this music

NAYDER: Annoying music is an art form that many listeners don't grasp because the gist of annoying music is, it has to be a serious attempt. Bad music, you shut off the radio. Annoying music is like a train wreck. You don't want to look, but you have to.

(Soundbite of song)

Unidentified Man: (Singing) And the cats in the cradle and the silver spoon, little boy blue and the man on the moon. When you coming home, Dad? I don't know when but we will get together then. You know we will have a good time...

NAYDER: People are just stopped in their tracks. You know? It's like, oh my God, is this joke? And then when you find out it's not a joke, it just stays in your head, literally, for 24 hours.

INSKEEP: That's "Annoying Music Show" host Jim Nayder, who spends his life on that tightrope between annoying and fun.

NAYDER: I'd like to go out with William Shatner, and his tribute to Bob Dylan.

(Soundbite of song, "Mr. Tambourine Man")

CHORUS: Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man...

Mr. WILLIAM SHATNER (Actor): Mr. Tambourine Man...

CHORUS: ...play a song for me. Ooh-ooh...

INSKEEP: Sung with feeling.

It's MORNING EDITION from NPR News. I'm Steve Inskeep.

RENEE MONTAGNE, host:

And I'm Renee Montagne.

Mr. SHATNER: Mr. Tambourine Man...

CHORUS: Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man...

Mr. SHATNER: Mr. Tambourine Man. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.